Railroad-tie.



A. A. OASWELL.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 22, 1013.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

i w Ma Z M Mk 5 m MQXQ L ww w/ jwfiwv w M 4 Z ,rll. A V M F H COLUMBIA I'LANODRAPH CO WASIIXNGTON, IL c.

ATEN FFTCE.

ANDREW A. CASWELL, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 23, 1913.

Application filed May 22, 19131 Serial No. 769,193.

2' '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ANDREW A. CAswnLL, a citizen of the United States,residing at the city of Los Angcles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have in vented new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a metal tie and the object thereof is to provide a simple and inexpensive tie thatis self-ballasting and self adjusting and which dispenses with the usual rail holding spikes and fish-plates.

I accomplish these objects by the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which: v

Figure 1 is a plan of a plate or sheet of metal showing the lines on which it is cut and bent to form a tie. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a completed tie with the partially severed parts in position. Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 3 with a part broken away. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the meeting ends of two rails with a portion of the tie broken away.

My improved tie consists preferably of a strip of boiler plate of suitable length, width and thickness, which depends on the gage of the road and its use. The wider the gage and the heavier the loads hauled over the road the longer, thicker and wider the metal for forming the tie must be. lVhen formed into a tie it is U-shaped in cross section.

I take metal rolled to a suitable width and thickness and cut it into suitable lengths for the ties. At each end of a length of iron suitable for a tie I cut longitudinal slits 10 as deep as the vertical height of the side 11 01' the tie and turn the part between the slits downwardly to form vertical end lugs 12. At equal distances from the ends I strike up L-shaped oppositely disposed rail retaining lugs 13 which are formed up to fitclosely the rail 1 L when positioned for use. The tops of these lugs fit against the lower edge of the rail head. Bolts 15 may extend through the top portions of these lugs and through the web of the rail. The upper portions of these lugs perform the function of fish plates at the meeting rail ends and the lower portions hold the rails against movement in either direction longitudinally the tie. Those portions of the lugs which contact with the edges of the base of the rail are spaced apart the width of the base of the rail so that when a rail placed therebctween and the bolts are fastened in the lugs and rail the rail cannot move longitudinally the tie. For distinction these lugs will be called rail lugs. At the meeting ends of the rails .lpreil er to have the tops oi these lugs provided with three holes and the center hole is preferably square. A bolt with a square shank or body 16 is passed through the lugs and through a square hole formed in and by the meeting ends of the rails. At

gall other points I prefer to have only one round hole through the lugs and rail although the holes may be omitted or two or three holes used. At regular distances apart between the rail lugs l strike from the metal anchor lugs which project downwardly when the rail is positioned for use. These anchor lugs are preferably pointed and are in two rows with the adjacent members in the first row in staggered relation as to the members of the second row. At spaced intervals in the edges oi the metal transverse cuts are made for a short distance and then extended longitudinally a short distance.

The portions between the longitudinal cut and the edge are bent at right angles to the face, first up and then down, and when positioned form retarding lugs to end movement. The end portions between the end cuts are bent upwardly and also form retarding lugs to end movement. The plate is then bent on the lines of the end slits into a U-shapcd form in cross section with the rail lugs up and the anchor lugs down or between the sides. In all places in Fig. 1 where solid lines appear the metal is cut and the partially severed portions are bent on the dotted lines. Other forms of anchor and retaining lugs may be used without depart ing from the spirit of my invention. By this construction I am able to form a railroad tie which is self anchoring and holds the rails without using spikes.

Tn laying a road with my improved rails the ties would preferably be formed before being brought to the road bed and would be threaded on the rail by having the rail lugs passed onto the base oi the rails. The ties and rails are then dropped on the ground. The side members and lugs enter the ground which is tainped under and around the tie to form a level track.

The

openings formed by the anchor lugs enable the traokmen to tamp and fill dirt under the tie.-

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. A railroad tie formed of metal plate and having rail holding lugs struck out of the body thereof and formed to fit against the sides of the rail, and also having anchor lugs struck out of the body thereof and formed to project away from the rail lugs and between and on the outer sides thereof.

2. A railroad tie formed of metal plate and having the body U-shaped in cross section; rail holding lugs struck out of the top of the body and formed to fit against the sides of the rail and under the head of the rail; anchor lugs struck out of the top of the body and formed to project away from the rail lugs.

3. A railroad tie formed of metal plate and having the body U-shaped in cross section; rail holding lugs struck out of the top of the body and formed to fit against the side of the rail; anchor lugs struck out of the top of the body and formed to project away from the rail lugs; and retarding lugs in the sides of the tie, said retarding lugs being formed to lie at right angles to the sides of the tie.

4. A railroad tie formed of metal plate and having rail holding lugs struck out of the body'thereof, said lugs having in the tops thereof two round holes and a square hole between the round holes and being formed to fit against the sides and head of the rail; in combination with rails having a square hole formed in the meeting ends of two rails and round holes at the sides of the square hole, said holes registering with the holes in the lugs when positioned for use.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of May, 1913.

ANDREW A. CASWELL. Witnesses:

G. E. I-IARPHAM, C. D. BENZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

